Expectations, Skills, & a Happy Marriage

What are your expectations in marriage? If your expectations are unrealistic, you’re probably going to be disappointed. The “lived happily ever after” expectation just doesn’t really work out that well. We all have our down times. Nor does the “you complete me” mentality make for a happy marriage. In the long run, we need to become complete as individuals before we can find true happiness with a marriage partner. (Read “You Complete Me” Kills a Marriage for more.)

On the other hand, having low
expectations will also lead to a less satisfying marriage. After all, if a
person has low expectations for their marriage, how hard will they work to make
their marriage better? A long-term satisfying marriage requires investment. Healthy
expectations for your marriage will lead to a greater investment in your
marriage. Think of it in terms of money. If I thought hard work would profit me
five dollars, I’d only work hard enough for five dollars. However, if believe hard
work would lead to a thousand dollars, I’d put in a little more time and
effort. Low expectations lead to less investment which leads to a less satisfying
marriage. So, what are healthy
expectations for a marriage? Here are a few. After you read them over, consider
what you would want to add to the list.